Attachment C
Caltrans Funding Commitment Letter
“Improving lives and communities through transportation” DISTRICT 8 OFFICE OF LOCAL ASSISTANCE
464 WEST FOURTH STREET ms760 | SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92401 (951) 236-0135 |
www.dot.ca.gov/caltrans -near-me/district-8
February 3, 2026
Joel Montalvo FTIP/FSTIP ID: RIV110124
City Engineer Federal Aid Project Number: 5282(040)
Engineering Services Department Project Description: Widen Ramon Road City of Palm Springs Bridge (56C0287) Over Whitewater River 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Dear Mr. Montalvo:
The purpose of this letter is to commit the California Department of Transportation (Department) to fund the widening of the Ramon Road Bridge (56C0287) over the Whitewater River construction project (Project) consistent with the attached draft project funding sheet.
The Department requests the City of Palm Springs (Agency) to concur with this proposal and commit local resources to allow the Department to produce a new financially constrained Highway Bridge Program (HBP) list for the Association of Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). RCTC will then incorporate the revised Program list into the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP).
The Department, in cooperation with the Local Highway Bridge Program (HBP) Advisory Committee (California Streets & Highway Code Section 2413), has implemented a policy to fund high cost bridge projects. Members of Local HBP Advisory Committee include the Department (Chair), representatives from the League of California Cities, the California State Association of Counties, the California Association of Councils of Governments, California Transportation Commission staff, and the Federal Highway Administration.
It has been demonstrated that high cost projects commit large sums of federal funds but cannot spend the funds in one year due to local agency contract processes, time to mobilize the contractors and the time it takes to actually construct large projects. These idled federal funds could be used to advance other projects. Cash management is critical to effective stewardship of the local HBP.
This letter implements the cash management policy for the Project. The Project is subject to the high cost policy because the Construction phase exceeds $35 million.
The Department’s funding commitments, as shown in the attached draft project funding sheet, are conditional. The conditions are as follows:
1. Agency is responsible for committing (budgetary) non-federal fund sources to fund the Advance Construction (AC) to cash flow the high cost phase of the Project.
Mr. Joel Montalbo, FTIP/FSTIP ID: RIV110124
City Engineer Federal Aid Project Number: 5282(040)
February 03, 2026 Project Description: Widen Ramon Road
“Improving lives and communities through transportation”
2. AC conversion may not be automatic if there are delays in constructing the Project. At least 50% of the federal funds obligated on the Project must be reimbursed to justify future programmed AC conversion.
3. HBP Guidelines authorizes the Department to reserve current year HBP funds for projects programmed in that current year through March 30th. After March 30th, the Department redirects the HBP funds to other projects that may be advanced from future years of the FTIP. Current year programmed AC conversion must be obligated prior to March 30th.
4. Additional AC conversion may be obligated in Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 26/27, 27/28, and 28/29, using Expedited Project Selection Procedures (EPSP), if HBP funds are available after April 15th of each year.
5. Congress has authorized a five-year transportation act which provides federal funding through FFY 25/26. It is unknown what the State’s authority to commit and/or obligate future HBP funds will be until there is either a new act or an extension to the current act.
6. If the federal funds for the initial authorization of the Construction phase shown in the attached draft project funding sheet is not obligated in the year programmed, the Agency must commit additional local AC resources on the project in the following year to ensure the Project is fully funded or the project must be removed from the 4 year element of the FTIP until the next FTIP cycle. In either case, the funding commitment in this letter will be vacated and a new letter must be developed.
7. In the event the Project becomes inactive, the funding commitment in this letter may be vacated and a new letter must be developed. An “inactive project” is a project for which no expenditures have been charged against federal funds for the past 12 months. (23CFR630.106(a)(5))
8. Nothing in this letter can be considered a payable contractual commitment by the Department. Contractual commitments to the Agency are made through the procedures/processes defined in the Local Assistance Procedures Manual.
Other Recommendations:
9. The Agency is advised to ensure HBP funds are obligated prior to March 30th of any given year or risk losing programmed funds. It is recommended the Agency schedule project authorizations and AC conversions in the late fall of any given year to ensure federal funds are available.
10. This letter, returned to the District Local Assistance Engineer, with Agency approval signature (below) may be used in lieu of the submittal of Exhibit 3-I, Request for Local Advance Construction Authorization, from the Local Assistance Procedures Manual.
Mr. Joel Montalbo, FTIP/FSTIP ID: RIV110124
City Engineer Federal Aid Project Number: 5282(040)
February 03, 2026 Project Description: Widen Ramon Road
“Improving lives and communities through transportation”
11. The Agency is reminded that if this project’s total cost exceeds $100 million, then it will be subject to additional federal oversight and must produce a multi-year financial plan.
The Department requests the Agency to commit their local resources consistent with this proposal to allow the Department to produce a new financially constrained bridge program list for the RCTC region.
If you have questions, please contact me at (951) 236-0135 or Esayas Hagos of my staff at (909) 963-8732.
Sincerely,
Alberto Vergel De Dios
District 8 District Local Assistance Engineer
Enclosures
Local Agency AC Commitment Block
Draft Project Funding Sheet
Mr. Joel Montalbo, FTIP/FSTIP ID: RIV110124
City Engineer Federal Aid Project Number: 5282(040)
February 03, 2026 Project Description: Widen Ramon Road
“Improving lives and communities through transportation”
Local Agency AC Commitment Block
5282(040)
The Agency agrees to use local funds in lieu of federal funds to finance the cost of work as shown in the attached draft project funding sheets shown as LOCAL FUNDED AC until such time that federal funds become available for obligation and subsequent reimbursement of eligible work. It also is understood that federal reimbursement is not guaranteed for funds identified as LOCAL FUNDED AC.
The Agency understands that work performed prior to federal authorization is ineligible for federal reimbursement and that advertising the construction contract prior to federal authorization will deem the construction and construction phases of work ineligible for federal funds.
Local Agency Representative Authorized Date
To Commit Local Funds
Print Name and Title
FOR DRAFT REVIEW ONLY --- 2024/25-2029/30 Highway Bridge Program Note id: 18
1) MPOs/RTPA’s must not use this listing for programming the RTIP. 2) This is NOT an approved listing for use in developing the FTIP/FSTIP. See the HBP web site for the official proposed FTIP/FSTIP program listings:
Notes:
2/2/2026, 12:23 PM
Caltrans, Division of Local Assistance Page 12/2/2026, 12:23 PM Det2 FL4 SmlTxt brf FOR DRAFT REVIEW ONLY --- 2024/25-2029/30 Highway Bridge Program District: County:
Responsible Agency
08 Riverside
HBP-ID Project Description
Palm Springs BRIDGE NO. 56C0287, RAMON ROAD OVER WHITEWATER RIVER, 0.8 MI. E/O GENE AUTRY TR. Widen 4 lane bridge to 6 lane bridge, seismic retrofit as necessary, scour countermeasures as necessary. High Cost Project agreement required.
Fund Source Summary:
PE
R/W
Total
1,814,000
4,994,000
CON
Total
62,577,000 62,577,000
3,180,000
1,814,000
62,577,000 67,571,000
3,180,000
Phase Summary:
Fed $
Local AC
Local Match
Total
572,812
4,994,000
LSSRP Bond
Total
20,000,000 10,000,000 1,000,000 20,000,000 4,399,418 59,820,606 7,177,582 7,750,394
35,399,418 -10,000,000 -1,000,000 -20,000,000 -4,399,418 62,577,000 67,571,000
4,421,188
Prior 24/25 25/26 26/27 27/28 28/29 29/30 Beyond
Prior 24/25 25/26 26/27 27/28 28/29 29/30 Beyond
3539
5282(040)
Project #:
PE Summary:
Fed $
Local AC
Local Match
Total
364,746
3,180,000
LSSRP Bond
Total
2,815,254
364,746
3,180,000
2,815,254
Prior 24/25 25/26 26/27 27/28 28/29 29/30 Beyond
R/W Summary:
Fed $
Local AC
Local Match
Total
208,066
1,814,000
LSSRP Bond
Total
1,605,934
208,066
1,814,000
1,605,934
Prior 24/25 25/26 26/27 27/28 28/29 29/30 Beyond
CON Summary:
Fed $
Local AC
Local Match
Total
LSSRP Bond
Total
20,000,000 10,000,000 1,000,000 20,000,000 4,399,418 55,399,418 7,177,582 7,177,582
35,399,418 -10,000,000 -1,000,000 -20,000,000 -4,399,418 62,577,000 62,577,000
Prior 24/25 25/26 26/27 27/28 28/29 29/30 Beyond
Caltrans, Division of Local Assistance Page 22/2/2026, 12:23 PM Det2 FL4 SmlTxt brf